While Westerhall Estate was growing sugarcane, coconuts, limes and cocoa during the 1800s, the focus has since shifted to producing rum. An on-site museum includes exhibits on the estate ruins, sugar refining machinery and memorabilia from journalist Dr. Alistair Hughes. 
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At the Mount Gay Rum Visitors Centre in Barbados, the colorful history of the world's oldest rum comes to life. In operation since 1703, the distillery in St. Lucy Parish includes both historic and modern equipment, as well as a duty-free store for purchasing rum and other souvenirs.
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Founded in 2009 as Bonaire's first and only distillery, The Cadushy Distillery not only produces rum, but also cactus vodka, the first Caribbean whiskey, tequila and a series of liqueurs inspired by the island's Dutch Caribbean heritage. A shady courtyard serves as the tasting room for sampling the myriad spirits.
Photo courtesy of The Cadushy Distillery

Martinique's colonial past has close ties to sugar and rum production, and visitors learn all about this history during an audio tour of Habitation Clément. Besides learning about rum production, visitors walk away with a better understanding of what plantation life was like during the island's colonial days.
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Appleton Estate, Jamaica's largest and oldest distillery, produced its first batch of rum in 1749. Today the estate welcomes visitors to tour the facilities, learn how the rum is produced and sample some of Appleton's 17 varieties of rum. A well-stocked gift shop at the end of the tour gives ample opportunity for adult souvenirs. 
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Rhum JM is distilled on the site of a sugar plantation and refinery on the Roche River founded by the Jesuit missionary Pére Labat during the 17th century. Set at the foot of Martinique's Mont Pelèe volcano, Distillerie J.M. makes its rums with estate-grown sugarcane. Visitors can learn more about the process at the distillery's high-tech exhibits, then enjoy a complimentary tasting.
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Visitors to this 6,000-square-foot facility in Sint Maarten gain insight into the history of rum-making while seeing the blending and bottling process firsthand. Visitors also get to sample new flavors in development, along with the full lineup of artisan rums, in the tasting bar. Those who'd like to take some Topper's home can even bottle their own.
Photo courtesy of Topper's Rhum Distillery / Facebook

River Antoine Rum Distillery in Grenada produces rum the same way it once did when it first opened in 1785. The privately owned distillery, the oldest functioning water-propelled distillery in the Caribbean, offers inexpensive tours where guests can sample the potent overproof rum, sold only in Grenada.
Photo courtesy of Mark Rogers for USA TODAY

While the world's most iconic rum brand got its start in Cuba more than a hundred years ago, Casa Bacardi began operations in Puerto Rico in 1936. Visitors can choose between historical, rum tasting or mixology tours to learn more about the past, present and future of the Cathedral of Rum.
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Nestled among the sugarcane fields north of the airport in Port-Au-Prince, Barbancourt Rum Distillery offers weekly tours of its facility, giving visitors insight in to the distillation and aging processes. The tour culminates in a tasting of the popular Estate Reserve rum, aged for 15 years.
Photo courtesy of Rhum Barbancourt / Facebook